Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-24

| ne could not remain and see you welded
to the husband of your choice. With an
honor and delicacy which would do
credit to any white man, he prefers to go
away and hide his grief from US, to whom
he has rendered so many favors."
she is noble in his way, but I could
never love him-eVen though he has saved
my life three times! I am sure Paul
would have done as much if the oppor-
tunity had been afforded to him"
81 surely would rescue you, or perish
with you, if you were in peril" said
Paul. "But from my heart 1 pity the
noble fellow, and forgive him for hating
my more fortunate self"
CHAPTER XXI.
1t was night once more, and all was
still at La B0Isa de Flores. 1t was
near the retiring hour of Mr. Delorme
and mis- family, when q sentinel, Or
lookout, hurried in from the tower over
the gate and said that al armed band of
white INDEPENDENTLY robbers, from their
! language ana threGts-had demanded
admission at the gate aud being refused
we're endeavoring TO force an entrance.
"Heavens! Are we never to be at
| peaCe-never to rest?" mosned Mrs.
Delorme, who Iatterly, from unrest and
nervousness, had been rapidly wearing
down snd wasting away.
"To arms, my brave boy-I can trust
you now! Hurry to the gate, and will
| follow with all the fierce l can bring!"
cried Mr.. DeIorme II Paul, as he sprung
for MS weapons.
In few moments the tower at the gate
vas fully manned, and alSlarp fire opened
upon the robbers, who had converted
some wagons and timber, which mad been
left outside, into q breastwORk, and fired
from behind it with considerable secur-
ity The firing was continued for some
time, apparently, with very little damage
an either side, if any. Suddenly, during
lull in the firing, piercing scream was
heard in the direction of the house, and q
moment after loud and terrible yell
from an Indian-the ComanChe's Whoop
of tr;umph-Was heard.
Paul MalerSon!" shouted a voice from
the robber band, which he too we'll knew,
"this is the second stroke from Ada Nc
Alpin! Be on. your guard for another
it will comet"
go God! Stella-it is Stella's cry!"
groaned Paul; and both he and Mr.. De-
lOrme ran to the house with their utmost
speed. g,
where to be seen, and Mrs. Delorme lay
senseless upon the floor.
From few terror stricken dOmestiCs
they learned that while the firing was 60
ing on at the gate an Indian, hideous with
war paint, had rushed in, seized Miss
Stella in his arms, and fed with her, as if
she had been only a child in his mighty
grasp-uttering, as he went, the terrible
;oL, hoI fop M nI hn toh1
father end almost distracted lover.
Whence the Indian had come, or how
departed, no one seemed to know.
Paul and Mr.. Delorme hurried back to
the gate;- but the robbers, the moment
after the tower had been first left by them
their horses and rode away at
full speed Their attack had evidently
only been a ruse to distract attention |
from the house while Stella was abducted. |
The agony of the father and lover was |
utterly indescribable. Neither of them |
would believe that the noble LagOpa had |
been him who seized her; the servants |
had not recognized him-cOuld not, in the |
paint and hideous apparel Of the being
who took her away. All that Paul felt,
all that he dreaded-all that was worse
than the sgony of death to him-was the
McAlpih, who would do anything, every
thing, to her, to be revenged on him, the
forsworn and faithless lover.
"Let US to horse, at once and follow
them," cried Paul, when all search about
the premises resulted in not finding even
I trace of Stella and her abduCtor.
"We know not how or where to trace
hem in the night! We must send again
nd TnII
his skill alone will serve US. He can al
If robbers; and his tried forces, too, are
necessary, to meet and punish them,"
said Mr.. d lOrme. 81 will send mes
Ienger for him"
81 will be the messenger" said Paul.
Il know the course to his station; rest I
;annot until once more have found my
,oor Stella, dead or alive"
"Bless you, my brave boy. A fathers
lopes and fears go with you. Hasten to
ring the Rangers here; refreshments and
orses await them. Go, God bless you, (
.o!"
Paul needed no urging. In less than
en- minutes he was riding the swiftest {
orse at it's full speed upon his errand. s
CHAPTER XXI.
While Stella and her stepmother were
stening, in an, agony of fear, to the firing
t the gate, the poor girl was terror
triCken at the appearance of the warrior {
escribed so briefly in the previous chap
er. He gave her no time to fly, or to ask
question; but bounding to her side g
flied her, like feather, with his left {
I'm, and turned to the door, which he 8
cached at a bound. l
She uttered piercing scream, but in Y
loment he bound her scarf across her L
louth and then bore her, with rapid f
tribes, to spot by the wall, beneath a 2
rec, and, by branch of this, he aided s
imself to the wall and over it. +
Upon the other side was a snow white
orse, which she too well knew; and, for S
lie first time she felt that she was in La O
ona's hands. She did not try to scream b
r struggle any more; for hope that, at
le worst, he would not harm her, came s
an instant to her heart. V
Still clasping her IN his powerful arm, t.
2 Ieaped upon the swift horse, and rode "
way at full speed. In short time he u
moved the scarf from over her mouth
I'd gave her more freedom to breathe. b
"Lsgona, Lagona, where do you carry Ii
e? Why do you tear me from my fathers Il
,use?" she moaned. G
"Ah! the White Flower knows me-" he
uttered. Then he added: "No harm b.
all come to the White Flower, but she d
ust be still. Worse enemies than La g
ma. are near" bi
And, a moment after, she heard the ty
amp of many horses joining them, and al
ard harsh voice-Which she thought bl
d fallen on her ear before-sav: b
can right, Miss Ada; he's got the W
RI" -.
Then she trembled, fer she knew. that d.
la McAlpin, who had already sought her fir
e, was concerned in this transaction. W
n CHI CHI 70